To the editor:
The first and second Sundays in November (Nov. 4th and Nov. 11th) are designated by various Christian organizations worldwide as the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. There are 215 million Christians in 60 countries currently suffering. They are real and they are our brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus. Christians are uniting in prayer for the persecuted church in the spirit of oneness that Jesus commanded in 1 Cor. 12:26, “for if one suffer, we all suffer!” Hebrews 13:3 says, “Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.” Pastor Andrew Brunson was just freed from a prison in Turkey and met with and prayed for President Trump. He said he was encouraged that people were praying for him. Pastor Brunson said, “I read in 2 Timothy, Paul talks about suffering and finishing the race well.” Brunson said, “This became my prayer. I want to be faithful and endure and finish well.”
Most of the below information is from the Open Doors website, www.opendoorsusa.org
According to Open Doors each month an average of 255 Christians are killed for their faith in Jesus, 104 Christians are abducted, 66 churches and Christian properties are damaged or destroyed, 180 Christian women are raped, sexually harassed or forced into marriages, 160 Christians are detained without trial and imprisoned. According to the U.S. Department of State Christians in 60 countries face persecution from their governments or neighbors simply because of their belief in and love for Jesus. Where does Christian persecution occur? Almost all persecution is directed against Christians living in Islamic and Atheist Communist countries. Why does persecution occur? In the case of China, North Korea and other communist countries authoritarian governments work to control all religious expression and thought because they want all loyalty to be to their country and to its rulers. The Bible tells us why Islamic people kill Christians. John 16 says, “…the time will come, that whoever kills you(Christians) will think they are doing God service. These things they do because they have not known God the Father nor me (Jesus).” The Bible says those who love death hate God.
The Bible tells Christians to take a stand for our persecuted brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus and be a voice for the voiceless in Hebrews 13 and Psalm 82. The Bible tells us in Matthew 5, “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Bless are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven…” Persecuted Christians don’t ask us to pray that persecution would end, but rather ask us to pray that they stand strong and firm in their faith, hold fast to the promises of God and live victoriously in Jesus through the persecution. They don’t wish to be delivered from the persecution, but rather ask us to pray that they would be able to forgive their persecutors and overcome the trials that they are facing in a way that is honoring to God. Hardship allows us to know Jesus more deeply and through storms Christians discover the love of Jesus in new and powerful ways. Rev.12:11 says, “They overcame him (Satan) by the blood of the Lamb (Jesus) and by the word of their testimony; they loved not their lives unto the death.” For Christians overcoming is much greater than deliverance!

D.D. Nave
Elizabethton